The Lexington Collection? of unique hotels, plaza hotels, and resorts has expanded its membership development department with a trio of veteran sales professionals. Joining the brand as directors are Jack Garagnani, Gary Craig and Jim Aylor.
Garagnani, who will handle the Central Region of the U.S. from his office in St. Louis, has formerly served as a director of franchise development for Accor Hospitality and vice president of franchise development for the Cendant Corporation. While at Cendant, he was responsible for the expansion of the Ramada?, Howard Johnson? and Days Inn? brands. Garagnani was also a partner at The Franchise Company, where he was retained to develop the Travelodge? and Motel 6? hotel chains.
Craig spent the last six years selling luxury homes in Paradise Valley, North Scottsdale and Carefree, AZ.? While there he was recognized as the state?s top producing individual agent for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.? Prior to Coldwell, Craig was a sales executive for 28 years with Xerox Corporation, where he was awarded as the number one producing sales executive, out of the over 5,000 sales professionals at the company.? Craig will spearhead Lexington development in the Western Region of the country.
Aylor is a 30-year veteran of the real estate development industry. For the past 20 years, he has been involved in the hotel franchise/development and brokerage segments, affiliated with such companies as Cendant Corp. (and its predecessor Hospitality Franchise Systems, where he handled Ramada, Howard Johnson and Days Inn), Trusthouse Forte, U.S. Franchise Systems, and Molinaro Koger Inc., where he was managing director of the Western Region.?Aylor will direct Lexington development in the Eastern Region of the U.S.
?These three gentlemen have each distinguished themselves with impressive sales accomplishments in past positions and we look forward to them taking the brand to new heights as we continue to expand throughout the country,? said Lexington Collection Group President Bill Hanley.
Garagnani, Craig and Aylor bolster an experienced Lexington membership development department that includes industry veteran Phil Boonisar, who handles the New England Region.
Utilizing the successful Freestyle? Brand Affiliation Model, members of the Lexington Collection choose between low, flexible, monthly fees or 3 percent royalties; select the amenities, services, and brand standards that best fit their individual market niches; are active participants in the brand through a voice and a vote in all major brand initiatives; and have access to the most comprehensive resources in the industry, resulting in strong revenue and return on investment, through the support of Vantage Hospitality Group, the 10th largest hotel company in the world. The Vantage family also includes the Americas Best Value Inn?, Canadas Best Value Inn?, Chinas Best Value Inn?, and Value Inn Worldwide? brands.